2024 Heytesbury Chardonnay

"An extraordinary wine of tension, energy and power. It’s the result of the earliest vintage on record at Vasse Felix, with the fruit being picked on 17 January. It's a wine of power and generosity, yet the subtle secondary characters in here really do strike a complex note. It's made predominantly from the Gingin clone and shows generosity, but typically lively acidity is there, and that wild fermentation adds richness and density. The aromas are a mix of brioche, subtle lemon curd, and cashew. But then there's a bright minerality. The palate is almost lavish, yet it's held tightly with that fine linear precision and crisp acidity. These wines have certainly become slightly more generous in recent years and allow the full expression of the Gingin clone from these distinct sites. It's another outstanding wine. Dare I say it, but this could be the finest Heytesbury yet."

"On paper, the 2024 vintage hits a lot of firsts: it was the earliest on record (starting January 17) after the warmest and earliest spring in the winery’s history. In the glass, the vintage delivers one hell of a chardonnay: rich, complex and yet finely balanced. It could balance on a pin such is the wine’s near perfect composition and keenly detailed acidity. At this very young stage of its evolution it brings forward deep, complex aromas honeyed and leesy rich with honeysuckle and citrus blossom, citrus and stone fruits with the odd hint of tropical fruit, alpine herbs and buttered biscuit. They gather on the palate, taut and powerful, crisp and utterly convincing. It’s early days but the excitement factor is already high. Flavours are enriched by saline notes, toasted nuts, lime peel and a sprinkling of ginger and herbs producing a wine evenly brisk paced and lightly creamy in texture. The stage is set for one exciting Heytesbury chardonnay production."

"The winemaking is good. The wine growing is good. And the sites are outstanding. The season might challenge, but the quality doesn’t waver. This is, without doubt, an outstanding release of Heytesbury Chardonnay. The intensity of fruit flavour is as exquisite as it is impressive; the texture itself has a presence to it; the flintiness sits within the fruit as much as it rises above it. It’s a parade of grapefruit, white peach, oatmeal and mineral-like flavour, with smoked hay and cedar-cream characters as modest and integrated assistants. Quality-wise, all over, it’s the bomb. The drama of the finish – and its persistence – is the ultimate confirmation.”

"The balance of fruit and tension is fantastic, with aromas of lemon confit, oatmeal, white mushrooms, crushed stones, jasmine, green melon and citrus blossoms. The palate is mid-weighted with a tightly woven texture, fine-boned acidity and a lovely phenolic grip intertwining oak and fruit. It’s generous, yet retains all the tension and salinity typical of Margaret River. Don’t be misled by the fruit concentration. There’s still freshness and minerality throughout. Excellent."

"This has one of those beautiful "ohhh" openings. Pretty and bright, with cinnamon, white flowers, fine cedar, almond meal and green apple sitting high-toned and pure. Things deepen with air as pithy white grapefruit asserts itself into the mix along with crushed rock minerality, sea spray and flickers of nutty nougat. Some cashew and lemon juice in there too — an arresting opening indeed. The palate has great concentration, bursting with white peach, cinnamon, white grapefruit, pear, sea spray, lemon juice and pith. There's gorgeous flow and energy as it glides through the mouth inside a frame of saline acidity and chalky phenolic grip, with length for days thanks to waves of rolling acidity. Outstanding — Virginia Wilcock and the team have done it again."